By: Robyn Dobson
The Yolo County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to allocate $550,000 of American Rescue Plan funds towards the Yolo Basic Income Project.
The Yolo Basic Income Project was launched on April 1 in an attempt to address the high poverty rate in Yolo County. Based on a survey of data from the Public Policy Institute of California, Yolo County ranked as having the highest adjusted poverty rate in California out of all 58 counties. The study, which used data from 2017 to 2019, found that the county has 20.9% of residents living in poverty.
The income program is a two-year basic income pilot targeted to the county’s most vulnerable families who are living in deep structural poverty with children under the age of six. The program provides additional cash benefits to families, usually between $1,200 and $1,500 per month. This living wage stipend brings the family’s total income one dollar over the California Poverty Measure.
Families also continue to receive CalWORKS housing support program management services and have access to CalFresh, Medi-Cal, child care, mental health, substance abuse, education, housing and career supports.
The Yolo County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to allocate $550,000 of American Rescue Plan funds towards the Yolo Basic Income Project.
The Yolo Basic Income Project was launched on April 1 in an attempt to address the high poverty rate in Yolo County. Based on a survey of data from the Public Policy Institute of California, Yolo County ranked as having the highest adjusted poverty rate in California out of all 58 counties. The study, which used data from 2017 to 2019, found that the county has 20.9% of residents living in poverty.
The income program is a two-year basic income pilot targeted to the county’s most vulnerable families who are living in deep structural poverty with children under the age of six. The program provides additional cash benefits to families, usually between $1,200 and $1,500 per month. This living wage stipend brings the family’s total income one dollar over the California Poverty Measure.
Families also continue to receive CalWORKS housing support program management services and have access to CalFresh, Medi-Cal, child care, mental health, substance abuse, education, housing and career supports.
The $550,000 allocated by supervisors was previously set aside in the ARP funding plan to be used toward an equity-related project in the children, youth and family category.
“In regard to equity, local data indicates that families of color disproportionately experience poverty in our community,” explained Karleen Jakowski, assistant director of HHSA. “While black children make up only 2.5% of Yolo County’s child population, over 29% of the child population participating in the YOBI pilot identifies as black.”
Jakowski explained that the intent of the equity subcategory is to serve disproportionately affected communities and improve equity outcomes for children, youth and families. The additional funds now being allocated to the YOBI project will allow the program to complete the intended full 24 months, she said.
“The potential impact of bringing families over the poverty line include reduced stress, education and career attainment, early childhood development, improved outcomes, reduced risk of child abuse and neglect, among many others,” Jakowski highlighted. “All areas where there are long standing racial and ethnic inequities in our local community.”
